Chapter Three: Returning the Wedding Dress

Hua Tang bit her lips and walked forward in small steps. She asked nervously, "That... Have you had breakfast?"

"No, I haven't." The man shook off the sweat on his forehead and said coldly, "Go and get breakfast ready."

Hua Tang nodded and ran into the kitchen. As far as she could recall, she had never enjoyed a life of being taken care of. She had always been working, and habit made her work quick and efficient. 

It didn't take long for her to make a pot of millet porridge, omelets, and a stack of shredded potatoes.

Fu Yong raised his head and met her big smiling eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly picked up an omelet and placed it on her plate.

Hua Tang was stumped. Just as she was about to decline, she heard the man say in a low voice, "Eat more. You're too skinny!"

"Oh…" She pursed her lips. Actually, she had a lot to talk to Mu Chi about. For example, she wanted to apologize for last night. It was a normal thing for newlyweds to do, but she made it seem as if he had forced himself on her. Now everyone felt a little awkward. 

Although she was a substitute, now that she was married, she couldn't play the unwilling maiden. She really wanted to live a good life with him. She also wanted to ask him about his future plans. They were husband and wife, so they should plan for their future. If things remained as they were, she really couldn't take it.

Furthermore, she still hadn't figured out what he did for a living. He couldn't possibly rely on fighting, right?

However, Mu Chi was only focused on eating. When he raised his hands, the thick calluses on his knuckles were clearly visible—these were the results of countless hits to the sandbag. 

Seeing the calluses, Hua Tang swallowed her unspoken words. He could probably take her nose off with one punch.

Their first meal as newlyweds was long and silent. 

Hua Tang felt a little wronged, but she had always had a big heart. Given the situation, she would not feel bitter; she would find a way to cope and adapt. 

"By the way, do you have anything else to do today?" Hua Tang asked.

Fu Yong paused at that. "What is it?"

"I'm going to the city to return the wedding dress," she said with a smile.

Fu Yong's gaze blanked. He did not care or do anything for the marriage, let alone know that her wedding dress was rented. When other women got married, didn't they all happily buy their wedding dresses for keeps? 

Having thought so, there was a strange feeling in his heart.

"I'm not asking you to accompany me!" At his silence, Hua Tang hurriedly explained, "I can return the wedding dress myself. I'm just letting you know that I have to go out for a while…"

"Alright," the man replied faintly.

The couple's interactions were formal, polite, and awkward.

Hua Tang didn't say anything else. 

She washed the wedding dress and packed it the way it came to her. She then placed the dress in a bag and took a few bus trips in the hot weather. 

When she arrived at the wedding dress shop, it was already close to noon.

When they got married, other than the verbal promise of a dowry, the Hua family did not prepare anything for her. She searched everywhere in the city before she found a bridal shop that was satisfactory in terms of style and price. But even so, her wedding dress still didn't quite fit; she was really too thin.

This bridal shop was not big, and the staff judged people by their appearances. Those who rented bridal dresses like Hua Tang were especially looked down upon.

"Miss, how are we going to sell this wedding dress after you've ruined it? If one's really that poor, they shouldn't be wearing a wedding dress. What's the point of even getting married?" the shop assistant said in a falsetto voice and looked at her with disdain.

"This, I... I've already washed it!" Hua Tang hurriedly said, "I guarantee that it is clean. There's definitely nothing wrong with it! It won't affect the resale price."

The shop assistant sneered. "Miss, you rented the wedding dress for a day, and you had to wash it yourself? Are you renting a wedding dress to go farming? Why else would you need to wash it?"

Although Hua Tang had an easy-going attitude, she was also thin-skinned, especially after being slighted like this… The situation on her wedding day wasn't much better than farming. She braved the heavy rain and walked through the muddy country road. The pure white wedding dress and wedding shoes got dirtied, and even her feet were chafed…

The shop assistant flipped the skirt of the wedding dress back and forth and started to nitpick. "Miss, you have to have some common sense. Even if this wedding dress has to be washed, it should be dry-cleaned! Do you know what dry cleaning means?" 

Seeing that she was one of the common folk, the shop assistant deliberately mocked her. "Ugh, ever since we opened this shop, this is the first time a wedding dress has been rented out… Ha!"

"One can't get married just because they rented a wedding dress?" Suddenly, a cold voice sounded.

Hua Tang was stunned. She turned around and saw Mu Chi stride in from the entrance. 

His eyes were cold as chips of ice, and his entire being emitted an imposing aura of authority.